Bobbin holder



July 5, 1960 R. K. WHITEHEAD, sR.. ET AL ,9

BOBBIN HOLDER Filed Jag. 6, 1958 x 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 $31. i 1 33a, 60 a \1 FIG. FIG. 2

INVENTORS: RICHARD KWHITEHEAD, SR. RICHARD K. WHITEHEAD, JR.

BY= a g t ATTORNEY July 5, 1960 Filed Jan. 6, 1958 R. K. WHITEHEAD, SR, ETAL BOBBIN HOLDER 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 FIG. 7

FIG. 3

INVENTORS: RICHARD K. WHITEHEAD, SR RICHARD K. WHITEHEAD, JR

AT TORNEY United States Patent 2,943,812 BoBBiN "HOLDER Richard K. Whitehead; st, and Richard K. Whitehead,

Jr., both of 2001 'NQGatewood Road, Emory University,Ga.

Filed Jan. 6,1958, Ser. No. 707,155

"9 Claims. (Cl. 242-1302) iii-"speed as'well as accuracy is an essential element and wherein time study procedures have dictated'a minimum of manual maneuver and effort, the design trend of bobbin holders has been in the direction of self-securing and self-releasing holder constructions automaticallyoperative in response to the manual manipulation of the bobbin in its placement on and removal from the holder. Among the problems confronting the designer of-such holders is that of providing such' automatic means at minimumc'ost and without sacrifice of'ruggcd and durable design characteristic or friction'free rotary mountmg.

*In elforts't'omaintain and prolong the useful life of such holders, ingenious bearings and bearing mountings have been developed. Since such'holders are customarily operated in an environment where the atmosphere includes usual-1y heavy suspensions of lint, dust, fibers andsimilar foreign matter, the problems involved have included that of providing rotary bearings adequately sealed-against the deteriorating efiect of clogging by such foreign matter. Movable elements adapted to be operative for the gripping and releasing of the holder must also be guarded against defects of operation or undue wear bytheingress of such foreign matter. Since such holders are in use by the hundreds of thousands, and require 'constant'replacemenaone of the overall problems confronting the designer is the production of an effective and efiicient holder,solving the problems above outlined, which will be simple in construction and operation andwhich is well designed to meet the rigorous demands of economic manufacture in-a highly competiti-ve-field. "In the present invention, these and other related problems of design looking toward the-achievement of-a novel and improved holder for conventional bobbins are solved by providing a holder which combin'eswith ruggedness, strength and durability the requisite features of operational efiiciency and manufacturing economy. The present structurealsoprovides ease and faithfulness-of operation'in response to the movement of the bobbin, all of these features being achieved with compactness and simplicity of construction in a structure free from'danger of undue deterioration by use in an environmentfrequently containing large quantities of suspended dust, dirt, lint and foreign matter.

It is'therefore among the objects of the present invention to provide a'novel and improved bobbin holder for the free rotary suspension of bobbins which will be simple in construction, elfective and efficient in operation and well designed to meet the demands of economic manufacture.

2,943,812 patented July 5, 1960 2 -Another object of the present invention is to provide a bobbin' holderof the character set forth including novel and improved means for providing'a rotary suspension thereof with antifiiction means adequately protected against the intrusion of dirt, dust, lint and like foreign mattel'a A'fin'tlier object of the invention is to provide a bobbin holder With"=automatieally operable means functioning incidentto the bodily movement of a bobbin to effect positive 'securement and release thereof in response to s'uch movement. A feature of the presentstr ucture for theaeeemplishment of this objective is the provision of an encased body which moves as a unit with -theplaeemeiit erthe bobbin as distinct from a separate 'Slidtiliild()pei itiflg' ring 01 sleeve.

It is also object at the present invention to provide an improved cam actuatingnieans foreittendingan'd retractingbobbin holdingfingers so that the retention and release" of the bobbin will befaithfully automatic in-respon's'e to movement of a bobbin With'res'pect to' 'the holder. p

In addition to the foregoing, an object attained by this invention" is the p'rovi'sion of a single" simple spring and mounting therefor, adapted to perform the 't-r'iple -ttmction of retaining thebddy in normal positionf'e'xer ting motivating force to thea'rrns and actuating" the arm gui'd ing cam.

"Iheobjectives' of the inventionfal'soinclude that of providing' a' construction of such simplicity of design as to insureec'ononiy 'of manufacture without sacrifice of -durability, -faitlifu1 operatiomand protection agains t undue wear aswell as" free frictionless rotation.

Numerous other objects, features and advantages of the present inventi'on 'will b'e apparent'from consideration of thefollowing specification taken in conjunction with *tlie'accompanying drawings in which:

Fig. 1 is an'eniarged side elewfation of that 'form' of the invention here presented by 'way 'of example.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged vertical cross section of that term of the invention shown in Figl 1, ."the'section being taken on a:- plane perpendiculanto the point "of view of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a cross sectional View takenon a plane normal to thewplane-ofFigrsl showing the holder in bobbin retaining position.

Fig. 4 is a View similar to Fig.3 showing the' part-s in the: position when the bobbin is raised from the retained position of Fig. 3.

Fig. Sis asimilar cross section showing the removal of the bobbin afterthe fingers have been retracted 'by the motion indicated in Fig. 4.

Fig.- 6 is a fragmentary detail view showing a modified form of fingerconstruction.

Fig. 7-is a detail structuralview' taken on the line '7'7 of Fig. 6.

In that structure presented by the drawings representing-one practical embodiment of the present invention, the support of the holder from a creel board, creel rail, or thelikc, isprovided by the'upwardlyextending vertical threaded shank 10 of a stud 11 which projects upwardly from the body of the holder. The shank 10 is received through the aperture or slot 12 of a generally transversely triangular creel rail or equivalent element 13. The aperture or elongate slot 12 of the element 13 is definedby inwardly projecting opposed flanges 14 which form an internal transverse pair of opposedshoulders 15. This combination and arrangement is such that a conventional thread engaging fastenerelement 16' may be mounted within the element 13 to be supported on the shoulders 15 and to thread eidly engage the shank 10 to-support the stud 11 from the element 13. Threadedlyengaging the shank 11 is the inner threaded-bore 20yof the central body of an umbrella-like, invertedly dish-shaped, upper housing element 21. The annular depending side walls of the housing 21 extend downwardly to form an upper external enclosure wall or skirt 22 while the upperouter fiat face 23 of the head is adapted to be engaged against the outer lower faces of the flanges 14. A transverse kerf 24 formed at the upper outer end of the threaded shank provides means for the rotation of the shank with respect to the element 13 and the securing means 16 retained therein, as well as with respect to the housing. Thus, by relative rotation between the shank 11 and the securing means 16 and the housing, the shoulders 14 may be gripped between the securing element 16 and the housing to retain the housing and therewith the shank in rigid adjusted and supported position with respect to the element 13.

The lower end of the stud'll is formed with a frustoconical terminal head 25 adapted to support a lower inner ball race 26 upon the upper tapered surface thereof. An opposed upper and outer race 27 and the intermediate ball bearings 28 complete an antifriction bearing assembly. A disc seal 29 is mounted on the shank 10 of the stud 11 above the upper race. The outer flange 30 of the upper race is fitted within an inner recess 31 within an annular head 32 formed by the union of a pair of central body elements 33. Thus the bearing arrangement is enclosed by and supports the united head portions 30 of the body elements which are thus retained by the stud in relatively fixed position with respect to vertical movement but which are free to rotate on the bearings.

Each of the companion and similar body elements includes a depending shank portion 34 of flat stock joined with the head 30 by a shoulder 35 which with the head 30 is of external arcuate configuration. The confronting inner faces of the shank portions are assembled .in face to face contact and define midway of their length an intermediate vertically elongate slot 36. Therebelow, the inner faces of the terminal ends of the shanks are cut away as at 37 whereby the ends form a terminal furcation, the kerf of which receives a cam element 38rotatably mounted on a transverse pin 39 extending between the furcated ends.

The fingers 40 which engage and release the bobbin are formed with reduced inner ends 41 of generally rectangular form and outwardly projecting heads 42 having upper and lower inclined horizontal surfaces 43 joined by an intermediate apex 44, a vertical cross section throughout at any plane being generally rectangular. The reduced portions of the fingers 40 are fitted through recesses of the enlarged terminal ends 45 of opposed finger arms 46. The upper ends of the arms 46 are formed with intemally bent side flanges 47 apertured as at 48 to receive therethrough a mounting pin 49 which is slidably received through the elongate aperture 36 of the combined body elements "33. Above the flanges 47, the arms incline outwardly to present a pair of divergent pressure fingers 50 upon which is seated the under face of an annular pressure disc 51 which receives therein the lower larger coils of a generally conical coil spring 52. The upper terminal 53 of the spring engages about the shoulder 35 acting to retain the companion plungers in the assembled relation.

The spring 52 being conical may be fully compressed with its coils in a single horizontal plane to minimize the axial length required to accommodate the spring. In this arrangement it is to be noted that the single spring 52 accomplishes a triple purpose in urging the housing down into its normal position for operation upon vertical move? ment of the bobbin, pressurizing the arms for retention against the cam to preclude loose movement thereof and actuating the cam as the arms are raised with respect to the body member 33. Not only is the cost of parts thus minimized, but both assembly costs and faithful coordinated operation is insured by this simple unitary and compact arrangement. r

The body elements 33 and 46 are encased within a generally cylindrical external housing formed by cooperating housing members 60, the lower ends of which are formed with opposed transverse windows 61 through which the fingers 40 may be projected and withdrawn as the arms are pivotally moved. The lower ends of the housing members 60 are tapered to a generally rounded nose 63 while the upper ends are formed to provide an extended annular cylindrical housing 64 adapted to reciprocate within the skirt 22. An annulus 65 is formed at the upper end of U members 60 to provide a sliding seal to deter the entrance of lint bearing atmosphere within the confines of the skirt 22 of the umbrella. As will be noted, the upper ends of the members 60 are joined by interfitting dowels 66 while the lower ends are formed with corresponding recesses and projections indicated at 67 and 68, respectively, in Fig. 7, and a rivet as indicated at 69 may provide a positive union between such members.

The cam member 38 is located in the kerf formed between the terminal lower furcations of the body elements 33 is generally rectangular and of such restricted thickness as to freely rotate in the kerf. The upper and lower side edges 70 are generally parallel and of substantially greater length than the ends 71. Each side is formed with an elongate surface 72 terminating in inclined surface 73 and a terminal outwardly extending surface 74. The companion surface of the opposite side is arranged in the opposite order so that its longitudinally elongate surface 72 on one side will be opposed to the inclined surfaces 73 and 74 of the opposite sides. Each end 71 is formed by an elongate inclined area 75 contiguous with a sharp outwardly inclined surface 76. The ends are oppositely arranged so that the elongate surface 75 of one end is in opposition to the sharply inclined surface 76 of the opposite end. For cooperation with the cam to move it from the horizontal position shown in Fig. 3, where the ends of the cam abut the inner faces of the arms to move the fingers outwardly to bobbin engaging position, a detent 80 is formed to extend inwardly from one face of one of the arms. This arrangement is such that as the detent moves upwardly with respect to the cam while the cam is in the horizontal position, the detent will engage the recess formed on the wall by the surface 74 to tilt the cam as the arm moves upwardly with respect thereto so as to dispose the cam in the vertical position shown in Fig. 4. Due to the inclination of the surface 73, when the arm moves downwardly from the position shown in Fig. 4, the cam will not be disturbed from its vertical position and thus the bobbin may be removed while the fingers are retracted and the arms are in their fully lower extended position, as shown in Fig. 5.

In operation it will be noted that when the bobbin is applied to engage the shoulder of the housing 64 the entire housing will move up with the arms sliding on the enclosed body element 33. This feature of the invention is to be greatly preferred to like structures wherein a ring or sleeve slides over a relatively fixed and exposed body. Obviously greater friction is encountered in such prior designs where the accumulated dirt, dust and lint may be forced internally by the operation of a sliding external sleeve. Throughout our construction the relationship of parts is such as to seal and guard the mechanism from fouling or undue wear due to such foreign matter.

It will of course be understood that the invention is not specifically limited to the various details of construction here shown, and as an illustration thereof reference may be had to Fig. 6 in which the fingers are shown as having transverse apertures 81 therein which may receive hooks 82 formed at the ends of the arms rather than the apertured arms which receive the solid fingers 70 shown in Figs. 3, 4 and 5. In the practice of the'1nvention it will be understood that numerous other changes, modifications and the full use of equivalents may be resorted to without departure from the spirit or scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

We claim:

1. A bobbin holder including a rotary bearing, a rotary element supported by said bearing, a pair of arms pivotally mounted on said element for sliding movement with respect thereto, bobbin engaging fingers carried by said arms, means for pivotally moving said arms in response to sliding movement thereof with respect to said element, said means including a cam mounted on said element, said cam being rotatable on a transverse axis fixed with respect to said element and engageable by said arms for rotation in step by step movement as said arms slide with respect to said element.

2. A bobbin holder including an antifriction rotatable support, a central body rotatably supported by said support, a cam mounted on an axis fixed with respect to said body to be rotated to and from a position extending beyond said body, a pair of pivotably mounted arms carried by said body engageable by said cam and slidable With respect to said body, said cam being rotatable on said axis in response to sliding movement of said arms with respect thereto to pivotally move said arms as an incident to such sliding movement, and a housing movable with said arms, said housing being engageable by a bobbin to reciprocate said housing and arms with respect to said body upon application or removal of a bobbin.

3. A bobbin holder including an antifriction rotatable support, a central body rotatably supported by said support, a cam mounted on an axis fixed with respect to said body to be rotated to and from a position extending beyond said body, a pair of pivotably mounted arms carried by said body engageable by said cam and slidable with respect to said body, bobbin engaging fingers carried by said arms, said cam being rotatable on said axis in response to sliding movement of said arms with respect thereto to pivotally move said arms as an incident to such sliding movement, and a housing movable with said arms, said housing being engageable by a bobbin to reciprocate said housing and arms with respect to said body upon application or removal of a bobbin, said housing defining windows for the extension and withdrawal of said fingers from said body.

4. A bobbin holder including an antifriction rotatable support, a central body rotatably supported by said support, a cam mounted on an axis fixed 'with respect to said body to be rotated to and from a position extending beyond said body, a pair of pivotably mounted arms carried by said body engageable by said cam and slidable with respect to said body, bobbin engaging fingers carried by said arms, said cam being rotatable on said axis in response to sliding movement of said arms with respect thereto to pivotally move said arms as an incident to such sliding movement, a housing movable with said arms, said housing being engageable by a bobbin to reciprocate said housing and arms with respect to said body upon application or removal of a bobbin, said housing defining windows for the extension and withdrawal of said fingers from said body, and yieldable means for restraining said body and arms and cam against relative movement.

5. A bobbin holder including a stud adapted to be secured in fixed depending position from a spinning machine, an antifriction rotary bearing carried by said stud, a central member formed of a pair of identical interfitting elements rotatably supported by said stud, a cam rotatably mounted on said central member, a pin slidably mounted through said member, a pair of opposed cooperating arms mounted on said pin and pivotally movable with respect thereto in response to contact thereof with said cam, a housing formed of a pair of identical interfitting elements enclosing said member, arms and cam mounted on said pin and slidable therewith with respect to said member and cam, said housing including a head 15 2,840,321

engageable by a bobbin to impart such sliding movement to said housing, pin and arms.

6. A bobbin holder including a stud adapted to be secured in fixed depending position from a spinning machine, an antifriction rotary bearing carried by said stud, a central member rotatably supported by said stud, a cam rotatably mounted on said central member, a pin slidably mounted through said member, a pair of opposed cooperating arms mounted on said pin and pivotally movable with respect thereto in response to contact thereof with said cam, means on one of said arms for rotating said cam into contact with said arms upon relative sliding movement of said arms with said cam, a housing enclosing said member, arms and cam mounted on said pin and slidable therewith with respect to said member and cam, said housing including a head engageable by a bobbin to impart such sliding movement to said housing, pin and arms.

7. A bobbin holder including a stud adapted to be secured in fixed depending position from a spinning machine, an antifriction rotary bearing carried by said stud, a central member formed of a pair of identical interfitting elements rotatably supported by said stud, a cam rotatably mounted on said central member, a pin slidably mounted through said member, a pair of opposed cooperating arms mounted on said pin and pivotally movable with respect thereto in response to contact thereof with said cam, means on one of said arms for rotating said cam into contact with said arms upon relative sliding movement of said arms with said cam, a housing formed of a pair of interfitting elements enclosing said member, arms and cam mounted on said pin and slidable therewith with respect to said member and cam, said housing including a head engageable by a bobbin to impart such sliding movement to said housing, pin and arms, and bobbin engaging fingers carried by said arms, said housing defining windows for the projection of said fingers therethrough.

8. A bobbin holder including a rotary bearing, a rotary element supported by said bearing, a pair of laterally movable bobbin engaging fingers slidably supported by said rotary element, a helical spring surrounding said rotary element and operatively engaging at least one of said fingers, and cam means rotatably mounted on said rotary element and rotatable with respect thereto in response to sliding movement of said fingers to laterally move said fingers upon sliding movement thereof with respect to said rotary element.

9. A bobbin holder including a rotatably supported central body member, a pair of arms mounted on said member, bobbin engaging fingers carried by said arms, an external housing enclosing said member and said arms, said arms and housing being united for unitary sliding movement to and from normal operating position with respect to said body member, said housing defining windows for the selective projection and retraction of said fingers therethrough, cam means rotatably mounted about a transverse axis on said central body member, said cam operatively engaging at least one of said arms and being rotatable on said axis in response to sliding movement of said arms with respect thereto for the selective projection and retraction of said fingers, and a single spring operatively engaging said arms for applying pressure thereto so as to urge said housing toward operative position, said spring also being elfective to operatively engage said one of said arms with said cam and effect retraction of said fingers.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,949,935 Hasbrouck Mar. 6, 1934 2,344,665 Adams Mar. 21, 1944 2,634,156 Crimmel Apr. 7, 1953 2,836,376 Winslow May 27, 1958 Fusaroli June 24, 1958 

